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*** Official Baltimore Ravens 2012/13 SB Champs Thread *** (1 Viewer)

roadkill1292 said:
The_Man said:
I think the Ravens have now gotten Huff, Spears, Canty, and McClain for less than the Browns are giving Kruger annually.
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:thumbup:
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Smile, the Browns are fine with the Kruger signing.

The big holes have been, pretty much been addressed or should be with Baltimore's high picks in the draft where the probability is highest to get starts and impact.

Their are a few smaller holes that the Ravens haven't addressed.

- Loss of Boldin

- Hole at OLT if McKinnie isn't resigned

- Retirement of Birk

The second year center has been groomed but he plays in the AFCN and has to face Geno Atkins so he'll be tested. Both Cleveland and Pittsburgh have Pro Bowl centers and I think having a strong center is important in the AFC North.

One question for the Raven fans.

I liked CB Jimmy Smith when he was drafted but he hasn't really stood out. I forgot about him.

What is his story? I don't even know if he was starting or what role he was playing. What has happened with him?

 
Good assessment of the Ravens' holes. Defense was a liability last year, and they've addressed most of the weaknesses. Still need a nickel LB and another Safety, at minimum, but they're looking set.

The offense carried them in the playoffs, and Boldin and McKinnie played a huge role in that after doing little (Boldin) and nothing (McKinnie) in the regular season. To me, the LT is by far the most pivotal role to fill. If they get someone to play there, then Oher stays at RT (where he is decent, as opposed to his terrible LT play) and Osemele stays at LG (where he is dominant, as opposed to his average-at-best RT play). With a LT, the whole line falls into place, including at Center, where Gradkowski will be fine - as long as he is flanked by Pro Bowl caliber players on both sides. Put in some clown at LG (like much of last year) because Osemele is out at RT and suddenly Gradkowski could be exposed.

But I don't know where they're going to just find a decent starting LT. People in Baltimore talk about McKinnie still being an option, but I don't see it. They let go of Reed (age 35) and Boldin (32) and saw Ray (37) and Birk (36) retire. Plus they let clubhouse issue guys leave (Pollard). They seem to be going in a clear youth and character direction, so I don't see them bringing back a 34-year-old who lived in Harbaugh's doghouse. I'm just hoping (and trusting) that Ozzie has a plan.

This is Jimmy Smith's make-or-break year and I think they're expecting very big things from him. He was hurt, then couldn't get back into the starting line-up. But apparently he worked his tail off down the stretch last year and he played well in the post-season, including a couple of huge plays on the Super Bowl-winning goal line stand. He'll be a starter this year, opposite Lardarius Webb, with Graham playing nickel CB. The big concern on him coming out of college was character and he's been exemplary - staying out of trouble, attending off-season workouts, etc. So now it's time for him to show up on the field.

The Ravens do a good job with player development - it's a luxury for them that high draft picks don't always have to immediately step into the starting line-up. Kruger is an example of a guy who developed over time, I'm hoping Smith and Upshaw are both similar in that they get better each year.

 
Is anyone else kind of hoping they make a big move in the draft for a left tackle? They have 12 picks, and don't have 12 roster spots available. Unfortunately, most of the picks are 4th round and after. That said, if one of the big 3 left tackles fall past, say 10, I'd be fine giving up next years 1 to move up. If they can solidify left tackle, suddenly their line looks good and young.

 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...s-gm-ozzie-newsome-making-all-the-right-moves

Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome making all the right moves

By Adam Schein

Columnist, NFL.com

It's the Baltimore Ravens' world, and we're all just living in it.

That's not hyperbole, folks.

The Ravens just won a Super Bowl after a regular season during which nobody thought they were the NFL's premium team at any point. They were dominant -- and, most significantly, supremely clutch -- in the playoffs. In the ensuing offseason, they've lost two icons and a number of other signature starters. Yet somehow, Baltimore comes out smelling like a rose, looking more entrenched than ever as the ruler of the AFC North, with a legit chance to be right back in the Super Bowl hunt.

The reason the Ravens are a contender every year is that they back up a great coaching staff with the best front office in the NFL. Ozzie Newsome is the best general manager in football. He's been doing it at a high level for a long time, building teams that produce double-digit win totals, make the playoffs and compete for the Super Bowl, year after year. Newsome believes in building through the draft and supplementing via free agency. It's clearly a philosophy that works. And Newsome also believes in surrounding himself with bright people and creating dialogue. Eric DeCosta has been Newsome's right-hand man for years, formerly as the stellar head of college scouting and now as the powerful assistant general manager. They work incredibly well together, forming the best 1-2 front office punch in the NFL, and bright football people/scouts want to work for them. Many teams crave a chance to make DeCosta their general manager, but he has legit power with Newsome, and owner Steve Bisciotti makes sure he's happy. Speaking of Bisciotti, he is fantastic. He's created a stable environment that's conducive to success.

Think about the challenges facing the team this offseason: The Super Bowl champs had to balance paying their franchise quarterback, jettisoning his security blanket, managing the salary cap and making tough decisions about impact players -- all while staying competitive as an elite team. Not to fret; Baltimore has a plan. The Ravens don't flinch.

In the wake of Ray Lewis' retirement, there was public pressure to bring back another future Hall of Famer, Ed Reed. He's worth the money for the Houston Texans -- they need to learn how to prepare and win in December and January -- but the 34-year-old veteran had already peaked in Baltimore. Reed will have his number retired by the Ravens one day, but it wasn't worth paying him the requisite salary-cap figure this year.

Paul Kruger played his best when it mattered most: in the playoffs. He was a true sack artist in January, putting together the single greatest stretch of his Ravens career, and he wasn't even an every-down player. The Cleveland Browns offered him a boatload of cash. Thanks for the memories and the title -- good luck in the future. Meanwhile, I believe the Ravens wanted to keep Dannell Ellerbe. I also believe they believe that the $35 million deal he got from the Miami Dolphins was insane. Cary Williams had a really strong and surprising year at corner after Lardarius Webb went down, but allowing him to walk (and sign with the Philadelphia Eagles) made sense. Webb is a really good player; there's no debating who will be better in 2013 and beyond.

Now, I loathed every angle of the trade that saw Anquan Boldin shipped to the San Francisco 49ers. He's the epitome of toughness. Joe Flacco was at his best in the playoffs when he was finding Boldin in key situations against the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and 49ers. But on the flip side, Boldin, like Reed, is an elder player. And with the money the Ravens saved from the Boldin deal and others, they got better in many areas.

After Fax-gate in Denver made Elvis Dumervil available, Baltimore jumped in with an offer that trumped what the Broncos were willing to pay him, knowing that was the only way to get it done. That's savvy. Dumervil is better than Kruger. I love the Michael Huff signing, too. The Oakland Raiders' roster has been a wasteland where talent goes to die. Ravens fans should be excited about Huff playing in their system. Rolando McClain was an abject failure on and off the field with the Raiders, but Newsome knows what his fellow Alabama product was supposed to be. They are banking on their structure.

Terrell Suggs will be healthy for a full year. Haloti Ngata is a beast. Those two -- not Reed and Lewis -- have been the best players on the Baltimore defense of late.

Lastly, Flacco rightly got rich, but his cap number for this year is team-friendly. His contract was deserved and counts as a win-win.

And this is all before the NFL draft, something Newsome and DeCosta work to perfection. They have a simple philosophy: Draft the best players available. They did it with Courtney Upshaw last year after trading out of the first round, as Upshaw was on their list of four players to draft with their initial pick. They did it when they drafted Delaware center Gino Gradkowski in the fourth round, too, knowing veteran Matt Birk wouldn't be around much longer. (Birk retired this offseason.) They did it in prior drafts with Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson. Nobody runs the war room like the Ravens.

This year's draft is very subjective, but you know Baltimore is going to get a player. If they don't like their options at No. 32, I'll bet they trade out of the first round; don't be surprised if they fleece a quarterback-starved team that eschewed a signal-caller in the top 10 and is overly nervous about dealing with a run on QBs early in the second round. You know Baltimore will find a way to make an impact with the last pick of Round 1 -- precedent says so.

Look around the rest of the division, which one might think is competitive. It really isn't.

The Cincinnati Bengals have talent and good coordinators. But both head coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Andy Dalton have a lot to prove in terms of good decision-making and good play in the playoffs.

I wrote about the Pittsburgh Steelers' mess earlier in the offseason. They are a barren, seven-win team with major issues at running back, O-line, receiver and every level of the defense. People are blinded by the proud history of this franchise, but Steelers fans should be very concerned. I'm interested in seeing if the team matches the Pats' offer to restricted-free-agent receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who is very talented and well-rounded. Bottom line: The gap between the Ravens and Steelers has never been more pronounced.

The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, are the Cleveland Browns.

Sure, you can say teams like the Broncos, Patriots and, heck, even the Texans are better on paper. Want to reference the past two postseasons? I picked against Baltimore in the playoffs every game this past season! This team just has a unique ability and a unique toughness. Baltimore has a culture, a knack that was established by Newsome, and is enforced by coach John Harbaugh and his staff.

Lewis won't be doing the squirrel dance anymore; Reed isn't walking through that door. But the championship foundation is there. Ray Rice is a star. Bernard Pierce continues to develop.

With the moves they've made this offseason, Baltimore is better off for 2013 and -- most especially -- way beyond that.

Follow Adam Schein on Twitter @AdamSchein.
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I'm not worried about Upshaw at all, provided people understand what he is. He's not a rush-end-disguised-as-a-LB; he's an old-school tough guy. I'd like him inside in a 3-4. Let Suggs (better against the run than he gets credit for) and Dumervil (awful against the run but hopefully on Webb's side) play OLB.

Rolando McClain intrigues me. In college, he reminded me of Lavar Arrington - a beast intent on destroying all mankind who didn't wear the same jersey. All I know of his Oakland career is the off-the-field stuff so I don't know if he's another Aaron Curry who is just overmatched in the NFL.

I'm still on-board with Jimmy Smith - he's been hurt too much to get down on him (though maybe that IS a reason). I still think his real home is as a S given his size.

In any case, I think the Ravens have handled this offseason perfectly. Even if every FA busts, I still think the logic behind it is sound.

 
I like the Ravens' schedule, especially all the 1 p.m. games until Thanksgiving. Playing in the heat of Miami on the back end of a two-game road trip might be tough, but I love the three-game homestand spanning Thanksgiving.

@Den (Thursday Night)

Cle

Hou

@Buf

@ MIA

GB

@ Pit, 4:25

BYE

@ Cle

Cincy

@ Chi

NYJ

PIT (Thanksgiving Night)

MIN

@ Det (Monday Night)

NE (Sunday Night)

@ Cin

They’ll go 4-2 or 5-1 in the division.

At home against Houston, Green Bay, Jets, Vikings and Pats, they’ll go 3-2 or 4-1.

On the road against Denver, Buffalo, Miami, Chicago and Detroit, they’ll go 3-2.

Best case, 12-4. Worst case, 10-6.

 
That's a really good home schedule for football fans (Houston-with-Reed, Rodgers, Brady....). I also love the plentitude (I think that's the 1st time I've ever used that word and it may be the last) of 1 p.m. games. The Steelers on Thanksgiving night is perfect for fans of both teams.

I'm STILL hearing Ravens fans whining about opening on the road and killing the Orioles for not adjusting. Shut the hell up, you morons.

I'm getting an itch between my shoulder blades that Ozzie's going to trade way up in the 1st round to take......I dunno. One of the big LTs? Is this possible? Am I a complete idiot?

Wait - don't answer that last question as I already know the answer.....

 
I thought McClain was an excellent signing.

But if I were the Ravens, I would cut him today. Part of what made his signing excellent was that there was no risk. Just cut him now, and there's been nothing lost.

All the off-season moves to date add up to the team completely ending the swagger, big mouth attitude that Billick fostered and that Harbaugh has been eliminating. They want to be - and have pretty much gotten to be (maybe Suggs aside) - a team of hard-working, high-character guys. I have to believe they told McClain he had one chance, and now he's blown it.

What kind of message does it send to the team that Bernard Pollard - the guy who basically clinched the AFC Championship for you - had too much negative baggage for you to keep (even though he's never been in legal trouble, he was just a big mouth in the clubhouse) but then you'll keep a three-time loser who's never even played a down for you?

Also, this incident just shows that you can't count on McClain. What if the Ravens don't draft an ILB who can play right away because they think McClain will be there, and then he gets arrested/suspended in August? Suddenly you don't have the team you thought you did. Just cut him loose now.

 
The_Man said:
I thought McClain was an excellent signing.

But if I were the Ravens, I would cut him today. Part of what made his signing excellent was that there was no risk. Just cut him now, and there's been nothing lost.

All the off-season moves to date add up to the team completely ending the swagger, big mouth attitude that Billick fostered and that Harbaugh has been eliminating. They want to be - and have pretty much gotten to be (maybe Suggs aside) - a team of hard-working, high-character guys. I have to believe they told McClain he had one chance, and now he's blown it.

What kind of message does it send to the team that Bernard Pollard - the guy who basically clinched the AFC Championship for you - had too much negative baggage for you to keep (even though he's never been in legal trouble, he was just a big mouth in the clubhouse) but then you'll keep a three-time loser who's never even played a down for you?

Also, this incident just shows that you can't count on McClain. What if the Ravens don't draft an ILB who can play right away because they think McClain will be there, and then he gets arrested/suspended in August? Suddenly you don't have the team you thought you did. Just cut him loose now.
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Well, you kind of pointed out the risk- if they adjusted their draft or free agency strategy at all because of him, there's the risk. Luckily this happened now and not a week from now.

I agree, he has to be cut, and I'd be very surprised if he isn't.

 
Saw a stat that with 13 and 12 picks, respectively, the Super Bowl 49ers and Ravens have 10 percent of the draft's 254 picks between them.

I could see the Ravens looking to move back if there is some interest among teams trying to move up and grab the last pick of Round One because there's somebody they want and don't want to risk losing at the start of Day Two. Baltimore seems to feel the guys they have ranked from 15 to 45 are all similar in talent and that this is a deep draft, so they'd be happy to move back from 32 and still get one of their top 45 guys while adding another pick.

Personally, I'd love to see them pick up a 2014 first-rounder - seems like next year's draft is projected to be better in the 1st round, and having two first-rounders next year that they could package for 1 Top 10 pick seems like their best chance at ever drafting an impact guy, assuming they're going to be drafting at #25 or later again next year.

If they keep the #32, I don't see them going WR (they claim that at draft slots #24-32, WRs but far more often than any other position) or Offensive Tackle - their philosophy has been to grab the first or second guy taken at a position (like ILB or Safety or TE) than the 5th or 6th guy at another position.

 
The_Man said:
Saw a stat that with 13 and 12 picks, respectively, the Super Bowl 49ers and Ravens have 10 percent of the draft's 254 picks between them. I could see the Ravens looking to move back if there is some interest among teams trying to move up and grab the last pick of Round One because there's somebody they want and don't want to risk losing at the start of Day Two. Baltimore seems to feel the guys they have ranked from 15 to 45 are all similar in talent and that this is a deep draft, so they'd be happy to move back from 32 and still get one of their top 45 guys while adding another pick. Personally, I'd love to see them pick up a 2014 first-rounder - seems like next year's draft is projected to be better in the 1st round, and having two first-rounders next year that they could package for 1 Top 10 pick seems like their best chance at ever drafting an impact guy, assuming they're going to be drafting at #25 or later again next year. If they keep the #32, I don't see them going WR (they claim that at draft slots #24-32, WRs but far more often than any other position) or Offensive Tackle - their philosophy has been to grab the first or second guy taken at a position (like ILB or Safety or TE) than the 5th or 6th guy at another position.
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So you're actually sane & not buying into my dream of OzCosta going up to get one of the Big 3 LTs? I would be supremely disappointed if they took a WR at #32 (there are cases to be made trading up or down for one). I'm one who subscribes to the idea that - if you're picking in the late 20s/early 30s - grab the top G/C/S/ILB, as T_M says above. If the Ravens stay put, my guess is LB Minter.
 
Ravens' brass sound very high on Elam, so I'll take them at their word:

DeCosta: "This is a physical guy that can tackle. He finishes plays in coverage...we're ecstatic about him."

Hortiz: "He's a versatile kid who fits our profile and he plays like a Raven."

Newsome: "We like his speed...and he's one of the better tacklers. He enjoys practice and enjoys the game of football," says that if there was one player all four (Harbaugh, Newsome, DeCosta and Hortiz) wanted, it was Matt Elam.

I feel like Huff and Elam are going to be a faster, more versatile and better covering tandem than Pollard and Reed. Still not sure what's happening at ILB, but if that gets resolved, it's hard not to think that Ravens D will be significantly better next year than last.

When THEY WON THE SUPER BOWL.

In case anyone forgot.

 
The_Man said:
Ravens' brass sound very high on Elam, so I'll take them at their word:

DeCosta: "This is a physical guy that can tackle. He finishes plays in coverage...we're ecstatic about him."

Hortiz: "He's a versatile kid who fits our profile and he plays like a Raven."

Newsome: "We like his speed...and he's one of the better tacklers. He enjoys practice and enjoys the game of football," says that if there was one player all four (Harbaugh, Newsome, DeCosta and Hortiz) wanted, it was Matt Elam.

I feel like Huff and Elam are going to be a faster, more versatile and better covering tandem than Pollard and Reed. Still not sure what's happening at ILB, but if that gets resolved, it's hard not to think that Ravens D will be significantly better next year than last.

When THEY WON THE SUPER BOWL.

In case anyone forgot.
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The more I read and hear, the more I like this pick

 
I really like how the defensive backfield is shaping up - a lot of great versatility. These guys are "multiple" as Billick would say.

While it looks like Huff will primarily be Free Safety and Elam will be Strong Safety, they are both enough of a hybrid-type guy to play either position on any given down - unlike Reed and Pollard. Huff was actually decent at CB for Oakland last year, and Elam played some nickel CB in his early days at Florida. I love a Strong Safety with 4.4 speed.

Meanwhile, Webb became a Safety in his final years of college just because no opponents would ever throw at the guy he was covering as a CB. And Jimmy Smith has the size and power of a Safety.

Harbaugh was a DB coach before he became Special Teams Coordinator with the Eagles and I think the Ravens can be very inventive with how they scheme using all these guys. Webb is already a ferocious blitzer out of the slot - I like the idea of Smith coming on a pure CB blitz (like Woodson used to do a lot for the Steelers) with Huff dropping down to cover his man and Elam over the top.

 
The_Man said:
I really like how the defensive backfield is shaping up - a lot of great versatility. These guys are "multiple" as Billick would say.

While it looks like Huff will primarily be Free Safety and Elam will be Strong Safety, they are both enough of a hybrid-type guy to play either position on any given down - unlike Reed and Pollard. Huff was actually decent at CB for Oakland last year, and Elam played some nickel CB in his early days at Florida. I love a Strong Safety with 4.4 speed.

Meanwhile, Webb became a Safety in his final years of college just because no opponents would ever throw at the guy he was covering as a CB. And Jimmy Smith has the size and power of a Safety.

Harbaugh was a DB coach before he became Special Teams Coordinator with the Eagles and I think the Ravens can be very inventive with how they scheme using all these guys. Webb is already a ferocious blitzer out of the slot - I like the idea of Smith coming on a pure CB blitz (like Woodson used to do a lot for the Steelers) with Huff dropping down to cover his man and Elam over the top.
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The_Man said:
I really like how the defensive backfield is shaping up - a lot of great versatility. These guys are "multiple" as Billick would say.

While it looks like Huff will primarily be Free Safety and Elam will be Strong Safety, they are both enough of a hybrid-type guy to play either position on any given down - unlike Reed and Pollard. Huff was actually decent at CB for Oakland last year, and Elam played some nickel CB in his early days at Florida. I love a Strong Safety with 4.4 speed.

Meanwhile, Webb became a Safety in his final years of college just because no opponents would ever throw at the guy he was covering as a CB. And Jimmy Smith has the size and power of a Safety.

Harbaugh was a DB coach before he became Special Teams Coordinator with the Eagles and I think the Ravens can be very inventive with how they scheme using all these guys. Webb is already a ferocious blitzer out of the slot - I like the idea of Smith coming on a pure CB blitz (like Woodson used to do a lot for the Steelers) with Huff dropping down to cover his man and Elam over the top.
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Hadn't gotten this far in my analyzing yet, but I'm even more intrigued after reading your post. That "you don't know who's coming and from where" thing gets me all tingly inside.

Somewhere in this thread (probably back in November sometime), I said I thought Pees was history as DC. Looking back, I was as wrong as I usually am because it's clear to me now that he was hamstrung quite a bit by players that weren't versatile enough or talented enough anymore to allow him any flexibility. Ray was a two-down LB playing three and was a serious liability on any passing down. Reed couldn't tackle anymore and had lost a step. Pollard could knock you the hell out, but couldn't cover me. Kruger couldn't play the run and got the majority of his sacks only after a fat, limping Suggs came back, and Ellerbe (to my huge surprise) only played a little over half the downs.

I am not criticizing any of these guys. Lewis & Reed are immortals. Pollard is just a nasty charcter to run into and has knocked out half of NE's skill players over the last few years (earning my eternal respect). Kruger & Ellerbe did what they had to to split $70m. And all helped the Ravens get rings in February. But, on the field, they held the Ravens (& Pees) back a bit in what they could do.

If Webb is whole come September (hopefully he had Adrian Peterson as a trainer) and Smith plays like he did in the playoffs, the Ravens DBs are much better than last year. The DL is mean and deep - as mean and deep as I can recall.

I hear folks worrying about the LBs, but they really only need one starter - Suggs, Dumervil, and Upshaw got 3 locked down for the most part. Lord knows, the Ravens haven't had problems finding LBs late or undrafted in the past.

 
At introductory press conference, Dean Pees says he plans to play Matt Elam at Free Safety, Strong Safety and even nickel. Loves that he comes from a non-vanilla scheme with Will Muschamp.

 
The_Man said:
At introductory press conference, Dean Pees says he plans to play Matt Elam at Free Safety, Strong Safety and even nickel. Loves that he comes from a non-vanilla scheme with Will Muschamp.
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Oh good Lord - Pees is reminding me more and more of Marvin Lewis. Anyone got a leg I can hump?

 
bicycle_seat_sniffer said:
great pick with Elam. How in the hell does Dallas not take him>?
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He may bust (though I think "solid, average pro but not a star" is a better fit), but that's the difference between OzCosta and Jerruh.

The last high pick I thought the Ravens blew was trading up to get Flacco so take anything I say with a massive grain of salt. Listen to The_Man, roady, and the rest for actual analysis that pans out.

One other thing - when the disaster of the Kindle/Cody draft should've bit them in the ###, the Ravens weathered it and WON THE ####### SB (has that been said?). The Steelers, Pats, and the other strong organizations do the same. Keep drafting good football players & take your chances.

 
roadkill1292 said:
THEY'RE DRAFTING AGAIN TONIGHT!

These guys are relentless.
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I'm not a draft guru, but Brown seems a perfect fit. I sem to recall guys hollering for him in the 1st.

Love what Baltimore is doing. They have flipped the roster on D - coming off of a SB win, mind you - to a faster, meaner bunch. The DBs are miles better now, the DL is deeper, and the LBs ain't no worse. Watch Ozzie find a good ILB either late in the draft or one that's undrafted.

 
In case you couldn't tell, the margaritas are kicking in now. I'm like the Usain Bolt of drinkers - I can go as fast as anyone, but after a few hours I'm the tired antelope who's caught by the cheetah.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
roadkill1292 said:
THEY'RE DRAFTING AGAIN TONIGHT!

These guys are relentless.
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I'm not a draft guru, but Brown seems a perfect fit. I sem to recall guys hollering for him in the 1st.

Love what Baltimore is doing. They have flipped the roster on D - coming off of a SB win, mind you - to a faster, meaner bunch. The DBs are miles better now, the DL is deeper, and the LBs ain't no worse. Watch Ozzie find a good ILB either late in the draft or one that's undrafted.
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I don't know anything at all about Elam but the Brown kid was all over the field making plays every time I watched K State.

Lots of new faces on the defensive side and I imagine it will take some time to gel but there's definitely a bunch of guys who can play. They'll be great at a couple of positions and not terrible at any of them.

They're probably not gonna find a Boldin replacement, though. It could be a busy year for Pitta and Dickson, which isn't all bad.

 
roadkill1292 said:
Uruk-Hai said:
roadkill1292 said:
THEY'RE DRAFTING AGAIN TONIGHT!

These guys are relentless.
Click to expand...
I'm not a draft guru, but Brown seems a perfect fit. I sem to recall guys hollering for him in the 1st.

Love what Baltimore is doing. They have flipped the roster on D - coming off of a SB win, mind you - to a faster, meaner bunch. The DBs are miles better now, the DL is deeper, and the LBs ain't no worse. Watch Ozzie find a good ILB either late in the draft or one that's undrafted.
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I don't know anything at all about Elam but the Brown kid was all over the field making plays every time I watched K State.

Lots of new faces on the defensive side and I imagine it will take some time to gel but there's definitely a bunch of guys who can play. They'll be great at a couple of positions and not terrible at any of them.

They're probably not gonna find a Boldin replacement, though. It could be a busy year for Pitta and Dickson, which isn't all bad.
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I hear ya, my friend. I'm hoping they can patch up what's missing on offense (the O Line specifically) enough and let what I'm hoping will be a good D help out some.

Maybe one of the 12 gazillion WRs they've drafted late recently and that C out of Delaware will help? Can Ray Rice play LT?

 
Elam reminds me of Laron Landry with cover skills, but smaller. That's not a bad thing, though. He plays with short man's disease, just needs to watch himself on going for the knockout hits.

Brown is rock-solid for what Baltimore needs.

 
Moves since WINNING THE SUPER BOWL

Replaced Reed and Pollard with Huff and Elam

Replaced Lewis and Ellerbe with Brown and Rolando McClain (if they don't cut him)

Replaced Kruger with Dumervil

Replaced Kemoeatu with this guy they just picked in the 3rd, Williams

Plus added Spears and Canty

I'll figure it out tomorrow, but it's kind of amazing how much younger they got on defense. Hopefully Suggs and Webb come back fully healthy and this defense could be ready to roll.

Still a gaping hole at Left Tackle. And the young WRs are going to have to show something.

Tomorrow, I look for the Ravens to pick up a WR, some O Linemen and maybe a TE.

 
@Ravens: Eric DeCosta on remaining team needs: "We would like to draft an offensive player at some point."

NO ####!!

 
The_Man said:
Moves since WINNING THE SUPER BOWL

Replaced Reed and Pollard with Huff and Elam

Replaced Lewis and Ellerbe with Brown and Rolando McClain (if they don't cut him)

Replaced Kruger with Dumervil

Replaced Kemoeatu with this guy they just picked in the 3rd, Williams

Plus added Spears and Canty

I'll figure it out tomorrow, but it's kind of amazing how much younger they got on defense. Hopefully Suggs and Webb come back fully healthy and this defense could be ready to roll.

Still a gaping hole at Left Tackle. And the young WRs are going to have to show something.

Tomorrow, I look for the Ravens to pick up a WR, some O Linemen and maybe a TE.
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Cody's gotta be gone, right? The Ravens have 87 D linemen and he's the worst of them all (& I say that knowing nothing about the one they took last night; hell, I'm better than him). If I were OzCosta, I would stay away from anyone with that last name going forward. Terrence is a fat slob and poor Dan couldn't get out of the tunnel without breaking his leg.

I wonder how many GMs DeCosta outearns.

 
hotboyz said:
@Ravens: Eric DeCosta on remaining team needs: "We would like to draft an offensive player at some point."NO ####!!
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:lmao: Have faith, young grasshopper.

I'm worried about the OL, but I'm ALWAYS worried about the OL. The Ravens could have Boselli, Larry Allen, Dermontii Dawson, Bruce Matthews, and Jon Ogden and I'd still be freaking out.

As for the WRs, I'd love another big contributer. But if the top 5 pass catchers are Smith, Jones, Pitta, Dickson, and Rice I won't jump off a bridge.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
The_Man said:
Moves since WINNING THE SUPER BOWL

Replaced Reed and Pollard with Huff and Elam

Replaced Lewis and Ellerbe with Brown and Rolando McClain (if they don't cut him)

Replaced Kruger with Dumervil

Replaced Kemoeatu with this guy they just picked in the 3rd, Williams

Plus added Spears and Canty

I'll figure it out tomorrow, but it's kind of amazing how much younger they got on defense. Hopefully Suggs and Webb come back fully healthy and this defense could be ready to roll.

Still a gaping hole at Left Tackle. And the young WRs are going to have to show something.

Tomorrow, I look for the Ravens to pick up a WR, some O Linemen and maybe a TE.
Click to expand...
Cody's gotta be gone, right? The Ravens have 87 D linemen and he's the worst of them all (& I say that knowing nothing about the one they took last night; hell, I'm better than him). If I were OzCosta, I would stay away from anyone with that last name going forward. Terrence is a fat slob and poor Dan couldn't get out of the tunnel without breaking his leg.

I wonder how many GMs DeCosta outearns.
Click to expand...
Below is a first guess at the 2013 53-man roster, as it would look right now. It's going to be tough to make the varsity squad this year! They definitely need some more bodies on the O line, especially the interior - who's the back-up Center now? - and a young Tight End or two, especially with Dickson likely to walk next year as a free agent (while Pitta will be retained). They have a bevy of young, untested WRs - not sure that adding more with today's picks helps that situation much. And what a glut at DL/LB -- I've heard they're asking Hall to convert from DL to ILB and are looking at moving McPhee to OLB.

I've listed 51 slots below that look taken to me - in some cases there will be a battle for one of those slots, or maybe they'll end up taking an extra WR or DB to get to 53. Lot of depth, though.

Special Teams (3)KochTurnerCox

QB (2)FlaccoTaylor

RB (5)RicePierceLeachAllenRainey

They seem to like Allen. Rainey will probably be in a training camp battle for his job, but I think they keep 5 RBs.

WR (5)T. SmithJ. JonesDossReedLaquan Williams/Streeter/Deonte Thompson

They like all 3 of those last guys on the list, but I don't see how they keep more than 1, maybe 2 at the most. Will be another battle with maybe Streeter going to the practice squad because he seems to have limited special teams value.

TE (3)PittaDicksonVeteran/Draft Pick

I would really like to see them grab a good TE today - Dickson is probably in his last year in Baltimore.

OL (9)OherYandaOsemeleGradkowskiHarewoodReidBack-up Center - draft one today?Another Tackle type (McKinnie?)At least one more back-up

DL (7)NgataCantySpearsArthur JonesWilliams ®CodyMcPhee

LB (8)SuggsDumervilUpshawBrown ®J. McClainR. McClainMcClellanBynes/Hall/McAdoo - pick 1, maybe 2

CB (5)J. SmithWebbGrahamChykie BrownChris Johnson/Asa Jackson - Jackson probably sticks over the aging and injury-prone Johnson.

Safety (4)ElamHuffIhedigboChristian Thompson/Omar Brown/Emanuel Cook - they like all these guys, so maybe 2 stick for special teams purposes.

 
The_Man said:
Moves since WINNING THE SUPER BOWL

Replaced Reed and Pollard with Huff and Elam

Replaced Lewis and Ellerbe with Brown and Rolando McClain (if they don't cut him)

Replaced Kruger with Dumervil

Replaced Kemoeatu with this guy they just picked in the 3rd, Williams

Plus added Spears and Canty

I'll figure it out tomorrow, but it's kind of amazing how much younger they got on defense. Hopefully Suggs and Webb come back fully healthy and this defense could be ready to roll.
Click to expand...
Here's how it breaks down, age-wise:

Reed (34) > Huff (30)

Pollard (28) > Elam (21)

Lewis (37) > Art Brown (22)

Ellerbe (27) > Rolando McClain (23)

Kruger (27) > Dumervil (29)

Kemoeatu (34) > Brandon Williams (24)

For Opening Day, when you put Webb in there for Graham and Jimmy Smith for Carey Williams, do you really only have 3 guys in the starting line-up who started in the Super Bowl? Ngata, Suggs, and Upshaw. Pretty incredible. And I think I like the defense's chances of being significantly better in 2013 than in 2012.

 
If the middle of that defense firms up into any shape at all, it's gonna be one of the better units in the league. Playing behind that interior three with two animals coming off the edge will really help Brown and McClain/Upshaw. I can see them stumbling around and getting picked apart by Peyton in the opener but after that their improved speed and athleticism will let them match just about every other QB on the schedule.

After thinking about it, I'm a little less concerned about the receiving corps than I was -- New England has proved that you can still be very dangerous with a pair of capable TEs, and the Ravens' pair is very solid, and there's still Smith and Jones on the wings to stretch things. But I'm still worried about LT and Gradkowski stepping up, even though gb U-H is right -- we're always worried about the O line. Even though last year's had a great playoff run.

 
For those worried about Elam's size, while he is undersized at 5'10, he does have long arms for a dude his size so he plays at least an inch taller. For example, Cyprion's 6'0, but his arms are > 1 inch shorter than Elam's. Everything I read about this Elam kid I love.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jamison Hensley reported on ESPN.com this morning that the defending Super Bowl champions are giving Rolando McClain one more chance.

Image is overrated. :lol:

 
Ravens traded a conditional '14 pick to the Colts for C A.Q. Shipley. Shipley started 5 games for Indy, most down the stretch. Have no idea if it was due to injury or what; I'm guessing "due to injury" since he didn't start in the playoffs against eventual SB Champ Baltimore. 26 years old.

 
roadkill1292 said:
:lmao: They can't all be home runs, Ozzie. But keep on swinging.

Who starts? Upshaw and Brown?
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Or maybe Jamele (sp?) McClain (sp?), if he's healthy. But I suspect Brown will be given every opportunity.

In any case (assuming JM's good health), that has the potential to be a pretty good top 3 at ILB.

 
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